It'll be interesting to see how Hank and Brunner work with a guy who will skate like he gives a s***. I know he's been skating harder but that doesn't change the fact he still floats. He just doesn't float as much. In a scenario where you have two skilled players who work well together, it's always fun to see who will mesh well with them. One plus one doesn't always equal two in the case of chemistry, it's not always the obvious choice. It could be someone like Cleary or even Eaves, who knows. I'd use this as a chance to bring up Nyquist and see if he can do something on that line.

I'm more concerned with the PP. Mule's been good there. He doesn't have to skate much. It sounds odd but I'd put Abby up there and tell him to park his ass. I think it's just the type of thing he'd be good at. Minimal dangling, minimal puck movement, just sitting on the crease.

Whine all you want about Franzen, but he produces. Just because he doesn't put forth his all in every game doesn't mean he isn't valuable.

If Franzen goes on IR, that's when Gus will be called up. There's no space on the roster tonight unless they want to send one of Lash/Tats/Andersson down.
As much as I'd like to see Nyquist get his chance I'd rather have the mule back next game as opposed to him going on IR.
Either way, we'll know more tomorrow.

Whine all you want about Franzen, but he produces. Just because he doesn't put forth his all in every game doesn't mean he isn't valuable.

Blah blah same ol' justification I see every time someone wants to defend him. He scores so he's allowed to do whatever he wants. I'll take hard work and a little less skill over floating and a little more skill any day. The Nashville series was the entire Franzen argument in a nutshell-worse team beats the pants off of a super skilled team because they worked harder. We've "lost goals" before (a silly argument anyway) and survived. This sounds like a beaten wife defending her husband because after abusing her he buys her a nice necklace or something. Or because deep down he's a good guy. Whatever.

The production that makes him untouchable to some, is overrated anyway.

Blah blah same ol' justification I see every time someone wants to defend him. He scores so he's allowed to do whatever he wants. I'll take hard work and a little less skill over floating and a little more skill any day. The Nashville series was the entire Franzen argument in a nutshell-worse team beats the pants off of a super skilled team because they worked harder. We've "lost goals" before (a silly argument anyway) and survived. This sounds like a beaten wife defending her husband because after abusing her he buys her a nice necklace or something. Or because deep down he's a good guy. Whatever.

The production that makes him untouchable to some, is overrated anyway.

You mean you'll take hard work and less production, and that makes no sense whatsoever.

holy jesus did nyquist kill babs' dog or something? whats a guy gotta do to get a call up?

He needs someone to be sent down first, and there is no reason for that.

You mean you'll take hard work and less production, and that makes no sense whatsoever.

I'm not saying replace him with Joe Grinder who scores 3 a year. I'm saying a top 6 caliber guy who works harder but scores a little less would be more than welcome. Like I said look at the Nashville series. Look at plenty of teams around the league who rely on hard work and it's effective. Look at when we lose, we're almost always more skilled but won't move our asses. Now think about how often we lose when we're really moving our feet-hardly ever. Franzen's play can kill entire shifts. That negates his 25 or so goals a year, 15 of which are gifts from his hard working teammates. I can't remember the last time I even said "man that was Franzen who made that happen". It's always someone else and he cashes in.

I love how this site believes they can judge work ethic better than professional scouts and coaches. Nobody in the the Detroit organization has ever hinted that Franzen is lazy. It's called playing a different style, and it's effective. I'll take Franzen on the ice over Flippula every night.

I love how this site believes they can judge work ethic better than professional scouts and coaches. Nobody in the the Detroit organization has ever hinted that Franzen is lazy. It's called playing a different style, and it's effective. I'll take Franzen on the ice over Flippula every night.

Uh huh. When do we hint anything about anyone? Read between the lines, Babcock's alluded to it many times. It's as simple as using your eyes.

Uh huh. When do we hint anything about anyone? Read between the lines, Babcock's alluded to it many times. It's as simple as using your eyes.

And not having a blind love for the guy.

Blind love? The writings on the wall. He leads our team in goals every year. He's quite obviously one of our most important forwards.
It's called blind hate not love.
And no, I don't think Babcock has ever questioned his work ethic or intensity or he wouldn't be out on the ice when the games on the line

Same ol' same ol'. Leads in goals. Scores. Yadda yadda. Some can see past that smoke screen. Some can't.

And didn't Babcock demote him a couple lines when it got really strikingly obvious? For a team like ours that says something. But what's he going to do, bench him? That'll never happen, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't. The problem with a guy like him is that he's actually valuable (not just hollow "stat sheet" valuable) when he decides to try. But how long do you hold on to hope? It's not blind hate it's called knowing when a guy is literally giving half effort and pointing it out.

I love how this site believes they can judge work ethic better than professional scouts and coaches. Nobody in the the Detroit organization has ever hinted that Franzen is lazy. It's called playing a different style, and it's effective. I'll take Franzen on the ice over Flippula every night.

Quit yammering on about Filppula, you seem to be the only one who has a problem with him, and it's getting quite annoying. He works hard every shift and is great defensively. I also love how your talking about how pro scouts no better than us, yet you keep bashing Flip, a bit hypocritical I would say. Babcock has never even HINTED about being less then what he expected.

FYI Babcock has mentioned several times in several interviews how he wishes Franzen would work hard every night and play to his potential, that being streaky doesn't help the team when they need it.

Quit yammering on about Filppula, you seem to be the only one who has a problem with him, and it's getting quite annoying. He works hard every shift and is great defensively. I also love how your talking about how pro scouts no better than us, yet you keep bashing Flip, a bit hypocritical I would say. Babcock has never even HINTED about being less then what he expected.

FYI Babcock has mentioned several times in several interviews how he wishes Franzen would work hard every night and play to his potential, that being streaky doesn't help the team when they need it.

You want me to go through a hundred post game interviews to find the one I'm talking about? I have a small amount of a life, so I will choose no on that

If it has happened several time in several interviews, wouldn't that be easy to find?

I don't think anyone is 100% happy with Mule. We all see the potential he has and how he doesn't reach that potential most nights. However, I don't see the hate for him without a viable replacement. That is, I would trade Mule ++ for Perry (assuming he would re-sign) or a top-3 D, but I don't think he should be scrached/given away/demoted unless his play decreases severely.